Speaker urges President Biden to act on border

Biden sending top officials to Mexico for talks

Also in today’s edition of ‘Regular Order’ for December 22, 2023:

• Both parties demand reopening of rail lines to Mexico.

• Trump could face legal trouble in Michigan.

• White House: U.S. Steel purchase needs ‘serious scrutiny.’

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SPEAKER. With no votes in the Senate on border security before a holiday break in Congress, House Speaker Mike Johnson on Thursday publicly pressed President Biden for immediate action to deal with a surge of migrants from Mexico - calling on him to use existing executive powers to stem the tide. "Mr. President - border security starts with you.”

• LETTER. "The southern border of our nation is being overrun," the Speaker began in a letter to the President. "This catastrophe requires your administration's full attention and commitment," as Johnson faulted Senate Democrats for not passing any legislation about border security.

• FESTIVUS. Johnson rattled off a series of grievances about Biden's border policy choices, pressing the White House to reinstate the 'Remain in Mexico policy' for migrants. The Speaker also faulted Biden for halting work on the border wall, and suspending asylum agreements with other nations.

• RAIL. Republicans also pleaded with the White House to reopen two closed railway crossings over the border. "Essential trade is at a standstill because Customs Officers are being pulled to process migrants," said Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX), who posted photos of closed crossings.

• DEMS. Also calling for action are a handful of border state Democrats - who feel the pressure of this situation much more than others in their party. "Every day these critical ports are closed, food and goods on both sides of the border are stranded — and it's Arizona businesses and consumers that'll pay the price," said Rep. Greg Stanton (D-AZ).

HISTORY. This is the fourth big migrant surge over the southwest border in the last 25 years. We've seen them in 2000, 2008, 2019, and over the past two years. I don't want to be negative, but it's hard to imagine how key Senators can strike a bipartisan deal on this subject over the break - because there hasn’t been common ground on immigration for four decades. That's my column in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

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AL SUR DE LA FRONTERA. At the White House, President Biden on Thursday spoke with Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador about the border situation - but there was no indication of any dramatic or immediate American policy changes to deal with the migrant surge into the U.S.

• READOUT. "The President and President López Obrador agreed that additional enforcement actions are urgently needed so that key ports of entry can be reopened across our shared border," a White House statement said.

• TRAVEL. The White House announced that Biden is dispatching the Secretary of State and Homeland Security Secretary to Mexico 'in the coming days' to meet with Obrador. No date was announced.

• ON THE SCENE. I liked this lede in the Washington Post on Thursday from Lukeville, Arizona. "Smugglers have sawed through the U.S. border wall here so many times lately that parts of the barrier look like something out of a sculpture garden or a Mad Max movie."

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U.S. STEEL. After taking a few days to digest the news that a Japanese steel giant was going to acquire U.S. Steel, the White House on Thursday expressed public concern about the impact of that move - which has drawn sharp criticism from Democrats in the Congress.

• STATEMENT. "The purchase of this iconic American-owned company by a foreign entity — even one from a close ally — appears to deserve serious scrutiny in terms of its potential impact on national security and supply chain reliability," said White House National Economic Council Director Lael Brainard.

• UNION. "Our union shares many of the concerns expressed in today’s White House statement, including how this deal may impact the future of domestic steel production," said United Steelworkers President David McCall, who accused management of only being interested in 'short-term financial gain.'

• DEMS. A number of Democrats have raised red flags about the sale. "Shame on US Steel for proposing to sell off another lodestar American industry," said Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-OH).

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REGULAR ORDER. This week marks three years for this newsletter! I want to thank all of you for your support. If you are not a subscriber, please consider giving yourself a holiday gift - or maybe you want to give the gift of straight news to someone you know. If that doesn't work, you can always buy me a beer.

HOLIDAYS. Next week might be quieter than usual for Regular Order with the Congress out of town and the holiday break. I want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a happy holiday season! Thanks for your support.

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LORDY THERE ARE TAPES. We've already listened to the infamous phone call that Donald Trump made to Georgia election officials to get them to flip the outcome of the 2020 election. Now the Detroit News is reporting that there are tapes of a phone call Trump made to Michigan Republicans - leaning on them to stop the final certification of that state's vote.

• TIMING. This Michigan call took place on November 17, 2020, just two weeks after the election. The Detroit News reported that Trump told two GOP members of the Wayne County canvass board that it would be 'terrible' for them to sign off on his defeat. "We've got to fight for our country," Trump said.

• EVIDENCE. Trump repeatedly claimed there were bogus votes being counted at Detroit's main vote counting site - the TCF Center - but his team never produced any evidence to back that up in court. Go back in time and read one court ruling which rejected those exact charges.

• LEGAL. It really won’t surprise me if these tapes become the basis for criminal charges being filed against Trump in Michigan for trying to interfere with the election process in that state. This would be much like the charges against Trump in Georgia.

• REFRAIN. Let me repeat for those in the back - Trump never had any evidence of election fraud in 2020. This was all about staying in power.

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TRUMP. The U.S. Supreme Court may get another case soon that involves Donald Trump. On Thursday, lawyers for Trump said they may bring another immunity question related to his defamation trial involving E. Jean Carroll. A federal appeals court has already ruled against Trump on his immunity claim.

• STAY. Trump's lawyers want that court decision put on hold - and an upcoming trial delayed - so that he can figure out his legal options, "including pursuing the appeal in the Supreme Court if necessary." You can read his brief at this link.

• RUNDOWN. At this point, you almost need a program to figure out which case involving Trump is at issue.

  • Georgia election interference case.

  • Trump classified documents case.

  • Trump Jan. 6 prosecution.

  • E. Jean Carroll defamation trial.

  • New York corporate fraud case.

  • New York City hush money case.

SCHEDULE. All those cases may certainly have an impact on Trump when it comes to the 2024 campaign.

• Jan. 15 - Iowa Caucus

• Jan. 23 - New Hampshire Primary

• Feb. 24 - South Carolina Primary

• Feb. 27 - Michigan Primary

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TAKING AIM. There aren't too many Republicans in Congress who will go on television and throw flames at Donald Trump. Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) is on that short list. Doing leg work for Gov. Ron DeSantis, Roy used a CNN interview to castigate Trump - who earlier in the week had targeted the Texas Republican for defeat.

• CHIPPED BEEF. Roy skewered Trump for not joining the GOP debates. "Donald Trump hangs out in his basement in Florida, afraid to actually debate. What's he afraid of?" Roy said. "Why won't he debate Ron DeSantis or any of the other candidates?"

• BORDER. Roy also went after Trump on illegal immigration, pointing out the big migrant surge in 2019 when Trump was in office. "If he had worked with conservatives to get bills passed in 2018 and 19, we wouldn't be in the mess we're in right now," Roy said.

• BIG VOICE. I've always thought one way to attack Trump is with a combination of bluster, a direct challenge, plus some ridicule. But that person also needs a big voice. Roy is one of the few who might survive while trying.

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TIRES. Republicans often complain about rising crime in Washington, D.C. But it can also happen at home. Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL) this week tweeted out a picture of a minivan parked in a driveway - resting on the rims, without tires.

• POLICE BLOTTER. "Ironically, on Friday, I spoke to the City of Ft. Pierce about the God-awful condition the city is kept in," Mast wrote on X. "If anyone sees my wife's rims and tires, please contact Mayor Linda Hudson."

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JANUARY 6. We are almost three years after the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. There is a Twitter account called 'Jan6thData' - run by two researchers from Brigham Young University - which compiles all sorts of numbers on those who have been arrested, charged, and convicted. Here’s a few stats to chew on:

• 1,237 people charged from 49 states.

• South Dakota is the only state without a Jan. 6 defendant.

• 92 percent of those charged are White.

• 87 percent of those charged are men.

• 80 percent of those charged are White men.

• Florida has the most arrests - 119.

• Total prison sentences so far - 884 years.

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GOLDEN STATE. An elected official from California and her husband have been arrested for their actions on Jan. 6. Karen Jones serves on the Santa Ynez Community Services District; she was on video outside the Capitol that day, celebrating her role in the riot. "I'm very proud to be here. I was in the first wave up the stairs."

• MINNESOTA NICE. A Minnesota man got an early Christmas present as he was arrested this week on charges related to Jan. 6. Martin Cudo was identified thanks to a tip by a high school classmate. The feds questioned Cudo one week after Jan. 6 - but did not arrest him until this past Monday.

• HOLIDAY GIFT. The Jan. 6 arrests have not stopped before the holidays. At least five people were arrested on Thursday.

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MUSE OF HISTORY.  December 22, 1807.  As President Jefferson signed what we now know as the Embargo Act of 1807, the House approved a resolution to make public the closed-door debates held on that measure.  "Resolved, That the injunction of secrecy attached to the passage of a bill imposing or laying an embargo on the vessels within our ports and harbors, be taken off."  The House has only held six closed-door sessions since 1812.

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LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM:

The House next has votes on January 9.

The Senate has votes on January 8.

Check President Biden’s schedule.

Follow me on Twitter @jamiedupree.

Email me at jamiedupree@substack.com

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